NEWS

Etchells take the media spotlight!

3 April 2013John Curnow

"Etchells action on Corio Bay, Geelong"

Photo by:John Curnow

Full marks to the Australian Executive for taking the charge and placing Etchells into their justified pre-eminent place atop the sailing media. The feedback via email, phone and comments on the quay has ensured that this step has not only been observed, but also far more importantly, appreciated!

Well done to Kylie Wilson for creating a lot of the space that is now occupied by Etchells and for doing so when you were very much under the weather. The attention of sailors and media alike, with greater coverage and editorial space is the reward for Kylie, the Executive and the Class as a whole.

Looking ahead we get to see if someone will finally crack the phantom double at Mooloolaba. The shear weight of precedence would indicate that this record has to fall, so the book is loading up already as to who will be the infamous first to get two titles to their name. If the conditions, racetrack and quayside activities weren't enough to pique your curiosity in the first place, then seeing who it could be will certainly have all the social media addicts attached directly to their smartphones and phablets.

At the same time the Etchells World Championships will be running in Rosignano, Tuscany, Italy. What a place! Newly crowned Victorian Champions, Graeme Taylor, Noel Drennan and Steve Jarvin are going with high hopes. Also sending/chartering boats and crew are skippers like Chris Hampton, Don Wilson, Jake Gunther and Doug Kerr from Western Australia. David Ritchard is racing in the Italian Nationals beforehand in the same charter boat Noel Paterson and David Healy will then use for the Worlds.

A little bit further on is the Geelong Masters, which you can read about HERE in this newsletter. Just a tad after that lot will be the 2013/14 Etchells National Championship on the Gold Coast. This will run from Monday November 11, 2013 with an Invitational Race, until the conclusion of proceedings on Saturday November 16.

The regatta will comprise of all offshore racing, directly to sea of the main beach of Surfers Paradise. See link below.

We understand that there are Western Australian sailors who plan to make their way to the GC. We also know that John Bertrand is booked in with crew of Grant Simmer and Andrew 'Dog' Palfrey. Further, there is to be an America's Cup 'Winners' chat from Oracle's General Manager, Simmer. If it isn't, then maybe Doggy (Head Coach at Artemis) will have plenty to say....

There will be the usual Queensland hospitality and North Sails is confirmed as the first sponsor. Accordingly, they will be offering the new headsail as a mid-fleet prize, just as occurred at the recent NSW Championships.

Peter Yeomans of the Organising Committee said, "We're looking forward to it and keen to see all of the fleets represented. We plan to turn on great Queensland weather and hospitality. It is the lowest period for accommodation costs at this time of year, so bring the clan if you can. There is plenty for all to do here on the Gold Coast!"

So well done to all the fleets who have been so active on these pages of late and to get amongst the PR machine. Good stuff! Also, if you happen to know who took the pic you send in for your story, please let us know, as it is a good thing to acknowledge.